Illinois District Upgrading and Expanding Security Camera System

As part of security and safety upgrades to its schools, the Macomb School District is updating and expanding its video surveillance system.

By Jessica Davis

April 29, 2019

As part of security and safety upgrades to its schools, the Macomb School District is updating and expanding its video surveillance system.

There are cameras inside and outside of Macomb Jr.-Sr. High School, but they’re not sufficient for security, Principal Chuck Milem said.

“The security system we have right now is really out dated,” Milem said. “The clarity of the picture is not great and we don’t have cameras in places that we’d like to have cameras, to be honest.”

Milem said the district plans to upgrade the blurry and laggy surveillance cameras to clearer, digital camera equipment. As part of the upgrades, more cameras will be added around the concession stand and in the parking lots.

“We have some out there right now, but it’s very minimal and we can’t really see a great deal,” Milem said. “So if something ever would happen, we would have access now and be able to see those things.”

District Superintendent Patrick Twomey said the security upgrading project will help the district increase its safety efforts.

“We’ll be able to share a code, with even local law enforcement, and even from their smartphone, they’ll be able to access our cameras instantly in real time,” Twomey said. “So they can see what’s going on before they ever come in.”

According to Twomey, Edison Elementary will also receive a new security system.

“So while we, in the new addition, put in new digital cameras, we’ll also upgrade the rest of the building with new digital cameras,” Twomey said.

Milem looks forward to the changes, “Just having that awareness […] To just know we have eyes on everything and everything’s taken care of.”

Systems will be added to both campuses this summer. The upgrades to the current systems will be paid for through health, life and safety funds, and the additional cameras at Edison Elementary will be part of the bond-funded $4 million expansion project.